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CPT code 27687: Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Gastrocnemius recession surgically lengthens the calf muscle-tendon unit to improve ankle dorsiflexion when gastrocnemius tightness contributes to equinus.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities9.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $434.21 for 27687 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 27687

Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
6.25
Total RVUs
13.00
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$434.21

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 27687 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 27687 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 27687 covers

This procedure lengthens or recesses the gastrocnemius aponeurosis to reduce calf tightness and improve ankle dorsiflexion. Foot and ankle surgeons commonly perform it for equinus contracture when the gastrocnemius limits motion, sometimes as part of treatment for related foot or ankle problems. A Strayer-type recession is a familiar example; this is distinct from lengthening the Achilles tendon.

Report the procedure when the operative work is a gastrocnemius recession, supported by the indication, examination findings, side, and details of the recession performed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 27687 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

27687 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$395.92
AlaskaUnavailable$536.42
ArizonaUnavailable$423.52
ArkansasUnavailable$391.16
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$444.50
Austin, TXUnavailable$442.08
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$443.88
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$459.38
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$414.54
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$426.95

27687 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
27687 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 27687 rate is calculated

Each of 27687’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 27687

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.25

6.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.77

5.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.98

0.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

13.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$434.21

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 27687

27687 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 27687

Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 27687

Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

27687 without 50 · national facility

$434.21

Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession

27687-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$651.32

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

27687 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 27687

    Calf tendon revision, gastrocnemius recession6.25 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27685

    Tendon lengthening, single tendon, leg or ankle6.52 wRVU

    $681.71

  • 27686

    Tendon adjustment, multiple tendons, same incision7.56 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27690

    Tendon transfer, single lower-leg tendon8.94 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

27685Tendon lengtheningSingle tendon, leg or ankle
Choose 27687 for a gastrocnemius recession. Code 27685 describes lengthening or shortening a single leg or ankle tendon more generally.
27686Tendon adjustmentMultiple tendons, same incision
Code 27686 concerns lengthening or shortening multiple leg or ankle tendons; 27687 identifies a gastrocnemius recession.
27690Tendon transferSingle lower-leg tendon
Code 27690 is for transferring or transplanting a tendon. It is not the code for releasing or lengthening the gastrocnemius aponeurosis.

Codes related to 27687

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 27687
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
27685Tendon lengthening, single tendon, leg or ankleGeneral lengthening or shortening of a single leg or ankle tendon when the work is not a gastrocnemius recession.$605.73–$882.89
27686Tendon adjustment, multiple tendons, same incisionGeneral lengthening or shortening of multiple leg or ankle tendons rather than a gastrocnemius recession.No office rate
27690Tendon transfer, single lower-leg tendonTendon transfer or transplant of one tendon, a different procedure from gastrocnemius recession.No office rate
27691Tendon transfer, deep, single tendonTendon transfer or transplant involving multiple tendons, not recession of the gastrocnemius.No office rate

27687 billing questions

How is this different from a general tendon lengthening?

This code is for a gastrocnemius recession. Use a general leg or ankle tendon-lengthening code when the operative work is lengthening a different tendon rather than recessing the gastrocnemius.

Does the code include Achilles tendon lengthening?

No. A gastrocnemius recession addresses tightness in the gastrocnemius aponeurosis; Achilles tendon lengthening is a different operative service.

What documentation supports the code?

Document the reason for surgery, the involved side, findings showing gastrocnemius tightness or equinus, and the operative technique and structures treated.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure. Reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 27687PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,007 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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